Recyclable Porous Polymer-Supported Copper Catalysts for Glaser and Huisgen 1,3-Diolar Cycloaddition Reactions

A family of polymer‐attached phenanthrolines was prepared from solvothermal copolymerization of divinylbenzene with N‐(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5‐yl)acrylamide in different ratios. The polymer‐supported copper catalysts were obtained through typical impregnation with copper(II) salts. The polymers and supported copper catalysts have been characterized by N2 adsortion, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG); they exhibit a high surface area, hierarchical porosity, large pore volume, and high thermal and chemical stabilities. The copper catalyst has proved to be highly active for Glaser homocoupling of alkynes and Huisgen 1,3‐diolar cycloaddition of alkynes with benzyl azide under mild conditions at low catalyst loading. The heterogeneous copper catalyst is more active than commonly used homogeneous and nonporous polystyrene‐supported copper catalysts. In particular, the catalyst is easily recovered and can be recycled at least ten times without any obvious loss in catalytic activity. Metal leaching was prevented due to the strong binding ability of phenanthroline and products were not contaminated with copper, as determined by ICP analysis. At the Copper, Coppercabana: Stable, porous polymer‐attached phenanthrolines were successfully prepared from solvothermal copolymerization of divinylbenzene with N‐(1,10‐phenanthrolin‐5‐yl)acrylamide (PCP‐Phen). After coordination with copper species, a heterogeneous copper catalyst was obtained that displayed a higher activity in Glaser and Huisgen couplings than commonly used homogeneous and nonporous polystyrene‐supported copper catalysts. The copper catalyst has excellent recyclability due to the strong coordination ability of phenanthrolines.